Deborah Thompson

As you have seen in the slideshow above, Kaungsuwai Monastery teaches English to monks from villages across Myanmar so they can go to university. 
                              
The monks need to pass an English exam to get into university and though English courses are available in large towns and cities in Myanmar, this isn’t the case in regional areas. Kaungsuwai provides this opportunity for young monks (20-30 years old from all different ethnic backgrounds) who have missed out.

The head monk & founder of Kaungsuwai Monastery believes education is the key to a peaceful future for his country. He has a vision to raise the standard of education for the poor across Myanmar. His idea : the ripple effect.

Monks have always educated the poor in rural Myanmar but many of those teaching have not had proper training.

Ripple effect : educate the monks & they will educate their communities.
                 
The monastery has few resources. The library will provide supported access to information, which will increase general knowledge, as well as help their English study. 

Ripple effect : the more informed and educated the monks, the better equipped they will be to teach others.
            

The dream becoming a reality

Funds will go entirely to the implementation and continuation of the library. 
This money will not be used for administrative costs. Volunteers are self funded.
The Kaungsuwai Monastery Library project fundraises under the umbrella of "Growing Futures - Aliamos (Global) Australia Ltd", a not-for-profit charity organisation.

The target figure will enable Stage 1 of the building to be constructed. This would be a great start!!!
But obviously we'd love to go over that target figure. It would mean the library could become a finished reality.

Any amount over the $8,000 target will go to completing the building and then directly and entirely to further developing the library in the future (e.g. computers)
  
Stage     Amount     What this figure will achieve
1              8,000        foundation - rudimentary building – to be used as study area
2             15,000       unfitted but functioning library building
3             25,000      completed construction – all fittings inc floor, electricity etc
4             $$ over     additional contents - shelving, computers, language lab etc

                                 

The major obstacle is weather. Building can only take place at certain times of the year due to flooding and excessive heat. Myanmar people are used to these obstacles and work around them as required. Six buildings have been successfully completed. They have been designed and constructed by qualified, experienced builders and local labourers. The head monk oversees all building.